Sliding Table Saws are saws that are fitted with a sliding device, which makes the saw much, much safer. You wouldn't know it looking at a saw like this, but it's quite a dangerous tool. Probably the single most dangerous in a woodworker's shop. That 10-inch saw is rotating at hundreds, not thousands, of RPM's and if it catches a piece of wood, it can send it rocketing across the shop, perhaps to hit someone in the face or the eye.

To answer this particular element of danger, the table that slides was invented. This is basically an addition to a table saw, which lets you position a piece of wood you want to crosscut (cut across the grain) and control the wood so that it has less chance of turning into a hazardous projectile.

So, a sliding table saw is a saw that already has the sliding attachment on it.

Rikon has an excellent saw with an integral sliding attachment. You can take a look at it, by clicking the link. The Rikon sliding saw sells for over $2,000, but if you're a cabinet maker or a fine furniture maker, it's well worth it.

DeWalt has a sliding table attachment that goes on a variety of their saws. You can take a look at it, here. The DeWalt attachment costs as much as some low-end table saws, but it's well worth it for cross-cutting wood.

Table saws are among the most useful of woodworking tools. They also can be dangerous. Having the right attachments like a rip fence or a sliding table make them much more user friendly. Interesting, European table saws generally come with all of these attachments because of more stringent safety regulations in Europe.

You can get a sliding saw, or a sliding attachment for your current saw. Either way, make sure you're safe! Paying a little more for a safe saw or for safety attachments for your saw is much better than losing a finger.